In the run-up to his rematch against David Haye on May 5, Tony Bellew sat down with XO for an interview about a range of topics.

Naturally, the most prominent subject was his upcoming fight against Haye, but Bellew also talked in detail about his path to the O2 against Haye on Saturday.

After beating Ilunga Makabu for the world cruiserweight title in 2016, Bellew was immediately looking for a new opponent.

The Merseysider wanted to defend his world title against Dmytro Kucher, who had just lost his first fight against Makabu, but the decision landed on the American BJ Flores - also Haye’s friend.

In the build-up to that fight, Haye intensified the smack-talk against Bellew, claiming that Flores would knock him out among other things.

It didn’t go according to Haye’s plans, however, who was sitting in the neutral corner at the fight, as his American friend was schooled by Bellew in the ring.

Bellew then revealed what he said to Haye, that consequently sparked a run-in between the two after the fight.

“I only go to the neutral corner when I’m knocking them down.

“At this point I’m boxing like an idiot by the way. I’m just looking for the knockout against this clown, I know I can do him.

“I knock him down, go back to the corner and said to David: ‘You’re next.’

“He’s laughing, he’s joking. I knock him down again, go back to the neutral corner and said to David: ‘I’m going to slap and smash you when I get you.’

“Drop him again a third time, the fight is over and I said to David: ‘When I get my hands on you, you are dead.’”

Watch the interview below [Scroll to 19:00 to listen to Bellew talk about BJ Flores and Haye]

The spat between the two resulted in Haye approaching Bellew, who was still in the ring. The words kept hailing between the two, and Bellew also kicked an advertisement board at him.

Bellew did face Haye in his next fight after Flores in which he surprisingly won.

An extra layer that has added more fire to the fierce rivalry.